Payroll Administrator

Durham University; North East; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A renowned educational institution in the North East is seeking a Payroll Administrator to provide administrative support for payroll activities. The role requires processing payroll changes, ensuring compliance with policies, and maintaining accurate records. The successful candidate will benefit from 27 days of annual leave and other perks. The working model is hybrid with at least two days on-site each week. This is an excellent opportunity to join a supportive community and develop your career.

Benefits

27 days annual leave

On-site nursery

Discounts on travel and retail

Health and wellbeing support

Generous pension schemes

Qualifications

• Five GCSEs at least Grade C including English Language and Mathematics.
• Experience in a busy office delivering administrative services.
• Experience managing time to meet deadlines without compromising quality.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative support for payroll activities.
• Accurately process payroll changes using multiple systems.
• Ensure activities are completed in accordance with policy and legislation.

Skills

Good digital skills

Problem-solving ability

Strong analytical skills

Good communication skills

Education

Five GCSEs including English and Mathematics

CIPP qualification (or equivalent)

Tools

Microsoft 365 applications

Oracle Fusion or similar payroll system

Job description

We welcome applications from candidates with disabilities, neurodiversity and long-term health conditions, and we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process.

We will make adjustments to support the recruitment and interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

If you are unable to complete your application via our recruitment system or would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments to support you in the application process, please get in touch with us on [e-mail]

Job Description

Payroll Administrator

Job Number: 25001605

HR & OD

Open‑Ended / Permanent - Full Time

Contract Duration: N/A

Closing Date

18-Dec-2025, 11:59:00 PM

Disclosure and Barring Service Requirement: Not Applicable.

The University

At Durham University we are proud of our people. A globally outstanding centre of educational excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other.

Across the University we have a huge variety of roles and career opportunities, which together make us a large and successful community, which is a key hub of activity within our region and nationally. Whether you are at the very start, middle or end of your career, there is a role for you. We believe everyone has their own unique skills to offer.

We would be thrilled if you would consider joining our thriving University. Further information about the University can be found here.

Find out more about the benefits of working at the University and what it is like to live and work in the Durham area on our Why Join Us? - Information Page.

The Role and the Department

People are the most important asset of Durham University, and our HR Department is pivotal in ensuring that we attract, recruit, develop, reward and retain the very best talent from across the world into our University community. Building on our bold and ambitious University Strategy, a key role of HR is to secure the University’s strategic aim, ‘to be a world leading employer’ by ensuring that our staff can reach their full potential. The HR Department plays a lead role in creating a working environment for our staff (and potential staff) which is supportive, stimulating and informative, which provides for creative and innovative employment practices and opportunities. Our aim is to make sure that Durham University is a great place to work.

Reporting to the Payroll Manager & Assistant Payroll Manager of HR Pay Service team, the purpose of this role is to provide administrative support for Payroll activities. The post holder will be responsible for accurately processing payroll changes using a number of systems, ensuring that all activities are completed within the necessary timeframe, in accordance with policy, and that complete up to date records are maintained in accordance with legislation.

The HR team has introduced a hybrid model of working where there is a requirement to work at least two days per week in the office, these days are flexible, but the expectation is that the whole team will be in together on these days.

Further information about the role and the responsibilities is at the bottom of this job description.

The base location for this role is Boldon House, our exciting new professional services hub. Boldon House is situated on the outskirts of Durham near the Arnison Centre in Pity Me. Boldon House brings a number of professional services teams together in a vibrant office environment which supports collaborative working and is designed to embrace hybrid working. To find out more, visit the project webpage: Boldon House – Durham University.

Working at Durham

A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University:

• You’ll receive 27 days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year - a total of 39 days. The University closes between Christmas and New Year.
• No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered. We have parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies.
• You can access exclusive discounts via our benefits portal including money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, eating out and days out at various attractions.
• Our on‑site nursery is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and you can access holiday camps for children aged 5‑16.
• We provide wide‑ranging health and wellbeing support including discounted membership for our state‑of‑the‑art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24‑7 Employee Assistance Programme.
• We offer all staff the opportunity to take part in volunteering activities to make a difference to the local community.
• Our family‑friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers).
• If you are keen on advancing in your role or career, we have a genuine passion for developing our colleagues from qualifications to IT skills, courses and apprenticeships.
• We offer generous pension schemes with varying contribution amounts to help you plan for your future.

Discover more about our total rewards and benefits package here.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Our collective aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and we believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work. As a University equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key part of the University’s Strategy and a central part of everything we do. We also live by our values and our Staff Code of Conduct. At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive.

We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under‑represented in our workforce including people with disabilities, women and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. If you have taken time out of your career, and you feel it relevant, let us know about it in your application. If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

What you need to demonstrate when you apply

• Five GCSEs at least Grade C or level four (or equivalent) including English Language and Mathematics or equivalent experience.
• Experience of working in a busy office environment delivering front line administrative services or having relevant qualifications for the role.
• Experience of managing time to meet deadlines and working under pressure without compromising on quality.

Skills / Abilities / Knowledge

• Good digital skills including experience in using digital devices and apps including – Internet, email, digital communication tools, Microsoft 365 applications, digital booking systems.
• Committed to continuing professional development.
• Ability to solve problems and resolve straightforward issues yourself and as part of a team.
• Ability to provide advice and guidance to a range of colleagues and customers.
• Experience and understanding of payroll related compliance.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to solve problems.
• Good communications skills, work well under pressure and to tight deadlines.
• Knowledge of Oracle Fusion or a similar cloud‑based payroll system.
• Experience of working in an organisation that has multiple contract types and both hourly‑paid and salaried staff.
• Holds a CIPP qualification (or equivalent) and able to demonstrate continuing professional development required to maintain professional recognition within a payroll arena.

How to apply

To progress to the assessment stage, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification above. Where there are desirable criteria we would also urge you to provide any relevant evidence. Please don’t forget to check if there is any weighted criteria (see above).

While some criteria will be considered at the short‑listing stage, other criteria may be considered later in the assessment process, such as questions at interview.

We prefer to receive applications online. We will update you about your application at various points during the process, via automated emails from our e‑recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to ensure you receive all emails.

What you are required to submit:

• A CV
• A covering letter which shows examples of how you meet all of the criteria within the Person Specification

Contact details

If you would like to have a chat or ask any questions about the role, Christina Mancini would be happy to speak to you. [e-mail]

Typical Role Requirements

Here are the kind of activities that you’ll be asked to undertake and ways in which you’ll be expected to operate.

Service Delivery

• Show a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, and the University’s values.
• Provide an excellent and timely service to our students, your colleagues and anyone else you come across as part of your role.
• Use your experience and problem‑solving skills to resolve routine issues relevant to your role such as payment queries and provide information and updates to help your team find solutions.
• Collect, organise and record data and information accurately and provide reports as required.
• Promote positive wellbeing arrangements which benefit you and your team.
• When carrying out your role, use and apply relevant professional and regulatory standards (e.g. data protection) when managing data.
• Use standard office‑based devices and applications such as Word, Excel and Powerpoint, to deliver services.
• Update guidance on standard operating procedures followed by the team.
• Arrange meeting / event venues and travel arrangements for other team members.

Teamwork

• Resolve queries and respond to requests for information and advice and bring any complex issues to the attention of more experienced team members.
• Help your team organise and provide administrative services that support key activities undertaken within your service and contribute to team planning activities.
• Help your team ensure that products and services are adapted in response to feedback and to meet changing demands.
• Seek feedback from students, staff and anyone else that you come across as part of your role on their requirements from your service to ensure that their reasonable expectations are being met.
• Record information (e.g. bookings for activities/events) and respond to queries which you receive.
• Liaise with staff in other areas, professional organisations and agencies to ensure that services are being delivered in an efficient and collaborative way.
• Liaise with external suppliers, contractors, specialists and service providers to plan the delivery of services and events.
• Provide support for meetings, working groups and committees, e.g. preparing and sending documents for meetings, drafting reports and taking minutes.
• Any other reasonable duties.

Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement Privacy Notices - Durham University which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.

When appointing to this role the University must ensure that it meets any applicable immigration requirements, including salary thresholds which are applicable to some visas.

We welcome applications from candidates with disabilities, neurodiversity and long‑term health conditions, and we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process.

We will make adjustments to support the recruitment and interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

If you are unable to complete your application via our recruitment system or would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments to support you in the application process, please get in touch with us on [e-mail]